Chapter 16: It Begins

-

The gang, plus Mrs. Summers, found themselves gathered around a large round table. Harry had magicked it up while Buffy had 'freshened up' and Mrs. Summers had baked some cookies. The table itself had been designed by Xander. It was constructed of a dark shiny metal, the top looking almost like a mirror.

"Nifty, just like in the movie," commented Xander.

"Which movie was that?" asked Harry. He sat down and looked at the other young man.

"Uhh, one of the James Bond movies I think...or some other spy flick. There was this guy who had nuclear weapons I think, or maybe there was something about a weather machine...but the consortium of villains met around this table." Xander tapped the table.

"Uh...than why are we meeting around it?" inquired Willow.

"The good guys didn't have a cool table," remarked Oz. The wicca looked at both boys speculatively.

"You know what movie he's talking about?"

"Sure." Oz nodded, Xander nodded as well and slapped the werewolf on the shoulder in what Buffy assumed was a friendly gesture.

"Yes, it's the one where the main villain has a silver mustache I believe," added Giles from behind his books.

"Yeah," agreed Xander with a nod of the head.

"You know it too?" Buffy shot her watcher a surprised look.

"Of course, one of the best really. Although I'm also a fan of the earlier version with the same title." Giles looked up to see two girls looking rather confused while both Xander and Oz grinned in agreement.

"Boys," Buffy, Willow and Mrs. Summers all managed to say at the same time. Buffy raised an eyebrow at Harry who had remained silent during the movie recollection.

"Did I mention I've been fighting a magical war for the last couple years?" Harry offered with a slight cringe.

"Not an excuse man," replied Xander seriously.

"So is an excuse," argued Willow kindly. "Anyway...I'm sure not every guy is obsessed with those movies...ummm, Angel probably hasn't seen it...right?"

"Yeah, well Angel's kinda been dead for a century or two...now that is an excuse."

"Actually I own the box set," spoke up the vampire from across the table.

"With the extended scenes?" gushed Xander. His eyes looked slightly dreamy.

CLANG

"Ouch." Harry had bashed his head into the table, and metal hurt.

"Yes well, we have some planning to do," said Giles in an attempt to gain order.

"Plan splan," moaned Buffy. "I say we march into the hellmouth and kick some magical ass."

"Buffy," her mother said sharply.

"Fine, magical butt...better? No, actually I mean ass." Joyce frowned.

"Buff, come on we have the cool table. Can't we at least pretend to be a consortium?" pleaded Xander. Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Do you even know what the word consortium means?" inquired Willow.

"It's a gang...right? Am I right?"

"As I was saying," Giles stated, ignoring the others, "I think we need a plan to handle this. According to Angel, Macnair has recruited vampires from Los Angeles and perhaps other cities. Any idea on exact numbers?"

"At least a hundred from L.A. He's recruited five major families. I've heard rumors he's reaching out to New York...but even if he is I doubt they'd be here yet. Traveling when you can't move around in daylight can be tricky."

"Don't forget he's got about every vamp and demon in town marching to his tune," added Buffy.

"How's he got them all listening to him?" asked Xander.

"I don't think he's using magic," added Harry. "Just persuasion. He has power and is ruthless enough to use it mercilessly. That has to appeal to the various groups. From what I can tell Sunnydale is a prize for any dark minded creature...but because of your work, they haven't had full reign. Macnair probably banded them together under the idea of driving the slayer out of town."

"So, if we stop um, Macnair...they'll all stop?" asked Joyce.

"I don't think so," speculated Giles. "He got them here...and his power has allowed him to lead them. But, well...now that they are invested in this town, so to speak. This isn't the first time massive groups have joined together to drive away a slayer."

"Really?" Buffy popped her head up. "What happened to the other Slayers?"

"Well...uh..."

"That's what you call a bad pause." Buffy sighed and reached for one of her Mom's cookies.

"You have to understand Buffy, it is rare for the various forces of evil to align together, due to their...nature...they don't usually trust each other enough to band together into large groups but, when they do--"

"Let me guess much badness occurs."

"Well Slayers have been known to have flew towns or...um--"

"Die," offered Buffy. Joyce cringed.

"Yes well..."

"Well I've got things other slayers didn't have, like my friends."

"Feeling the love Buffster, feeling the love." Xander wiped a fake tear from his eye and sniveled convincingly. Willow smacked his arm with an exasperated look on her face.

"Macnair does add a problem to the mix though," said Buffy.

"I can handle Macnair," stated Harry firmly.

"Harry what about contacting the wizarding world?" urged Giles.

"What? There are other wizards that might help?" asked Willow.

"Well, eh, yeah...but trust me Macnair isn't a problem. Also if they come they'll take everything over. They'll lock us in the house and say we're just kids and the adults should handle it." Harry shrugged his shoulders. That might not be true in he and Buffy's case, but Xander and Willow would be excluded, considered defenseless muggles. Ox would be considered a monster, almost as bad as Macnair.

"Is that a bad thing?" inquired Joyce. The young people in the room raised their eyebrows.

"Mom!" Buffy complained.

"Well, if there are adult wizards who can take care of that crazy wizard why shouldn't we call them." Joyce set her lip in a firm line. Buffy closed her eyes and tried to think of an excuse.

"Mrs. Summers, I know you are worried, but trust me. I won't let Macnair hurt anyone, and I am an adult wizard." Harry nodded his head firmly, but Joyce's face was still clouded over with doubt. Giles also didn't seem to know what to make of his confidant nephew. Harry had said this man had killed one of his friends. Buffy had told him that Harry was capable...but? He'd just have to trust him. But, why in matters of life and death was it so hard to trust?

"Well it seems like it is Macnair's plan to open the hellmouth," stated Harry, distancing himself from their previous discussion.

"You think if you can get to him, you can stop him from working his mojo." Buffy nodded her head following along with what Harry was thinking.

"Yeah, and if we can stop hell from being opened onto Earth, I figure we can handle the rest. But first we get to Macnair." Buffy nodded in agreement.

"If we get close enough can you do that popping thing, you know where you just disappear and reappear?"

"Yeah, I'd just like to know where he is so that I don't walk into to anything...unpleasant." Buffy nodded.

"We can keep most of his minions busy...but with these numbers some might slip by."

"That's fine. Where is this hellmouth, inside? Outside?" asked Harry.

"Inside, it was under where the library was...but with all the damage..." Buffy shrugged.

"If I get into trouble I'll just conjure sunlight, seems to work pretty well." Buffy's eyes narrowed.

"You can make sunlight...that is sooooo unfair!" Her outrage was obvious, she pursed her lips and pouted. Harry smirked and she finally shook her head in an annoyed gesture.

-

Joyce watched in some concern and amusement as her daughter and a young man she had only met a little over a week ago planned a battle with such ease and confidence. Watching the two of them seem to read the other's mind was odd in people so young. She tilted her head and watched her daughter for a moment. It was disconcerting for her, as a mother, to see how adept her daughter was at strategy. Not that Joyce thought women were inept when it came to warfare, but Buffy was still so young. She realized with a pang of sadness that this ease had no doubt been forged over time. How many attacks, missions or perhaps even wars, had her daughter organized and fought, all without her knowledge. As she watched a part of Joyce was proud. But another part of her was shamed, not ashamed of Buffy, but of herself. How could she have not been there for her daughter? Buffy had tried to keep it hidden, and although that had hurt, Joyce had come to understand the reasons behind her daughter's deception. But could she forgive her own stupid denial. Buffy's words echoed in her head.

" Open your eyes, Mom. What do you think has been going on for the past two years? The fights, the weird occurrences. How many times have you washed blood out of my clothing, and you still haven't figured it out?"

Joyce shook slightly remembering those words. It had been a year ago...but the words still cut.

Well she was going to be a part of her daughter's life now. Her whole life.

Yet as she watched her daughter's face, she couldn't help but wonder, or perhaps hope, that some of the ease and comfort came from the young man on her right. Maybe, she'd never fully understand this part of her daughter's life. It was a sad fact she might have to face. But, she was glad that there was someone who could.

-

The troops were organized. Buffy had been surprised when her mom volunteered to come. It had actually taken awhile to convince the elder Summers that her presence might be more of a distraction than an aide.

They had decided to attack a little over an hour before sunrise, this would give the vampires a short window of time, which gave the good guys a slight advantage. Vampires tired less easily than humans, a long fight wouldn't help the Scoobies. Also, there was a chance that they might keep a few vampires busy enough to not sense the nearing sun. Harry used this time to go over any spells Macnair might use. Largely these were the Unforgivables. The gang were properly terrified of the Cruciatus Curse, as well as the Avada Kedavra. (Although Xander hadn't been able to avoid joking how much the muggle 'magical word' Abracadabra sounded like the fearsome death curse.) But, to Harry confusion, the gang didn't seem to be taking the Imperius Curse very seriously.

"No, it's complete and total control, the caster can make you do anything," warned Harry a little more firmly this time.

"Yeah, but no lasting effects right," questioned Willow.

"Well," Harry paused, "If you consider being forced to murder all your friends not a lasting effect, than yeah."

Pause.

"Okay, that's bad," said Buffy with a shiver. Harry nodded.

"It can be fought, but you have to have a great strength of will," advised Harry.

"Can we ugh, practice it?" asked Willow. Harry closed his eyes.

Could he cast a true Unforgivable? After his one failed attempt at the Ministry, Harry had only cast one other dark spell. It had been the spell Hermione had found, it had been the spell he cast on Voldemort, and it was still tugging at him now. Could he cast more dark magic?

"No," whispered Harry softly, almost regretfully.

"Well we'll just have to use our shields, right guys," encouraged Buffy. Everyone lifted their respective shields and held them firmly. Willow had been the one to suggest they charm the shields to individuals. Or, actually she had asked Harry if it was possible as she still wasn't certain about the limits of Harry's magic. This guaranteed that no vampires could snag a shield to protect themselves from Harry. The charm also had the unique effect of throwing someone across the room if they tried to touch a shield that didn't belong to them, or so Buffy had learned...the hard way.

Harry watched his new found friends as they held their shields. Most of them had a worried look on their faces. Harry could understand why. They had never faced magic like his before. It was one thing to be intrigued by Harry's 'magic tricks,' it was another thing to face a dark wizard who would use terrible magic against them with restraint. Buffy was nodding head softly, remembering everything Harry had told her about dodging magic.

"I'll take care of Macnair don't worry," Harry voice reached across the room. Buffy raised her head and smiled.

"We know you can Harry." Buffy's words were encouraging and somehow Harry felt a little stronger after she had said them.

Buffy and Harry had decided a portkey would be the best form of travel. That way they could get there quickly and all of them together. Upon Giles's request, Harry had also made individual portkeys back. It was really a rather ingenious idea, if anyone was hurt and had to leave, they only had to do was tug on a pendant around their neck and say "Giles's Flat." Joyce had finally been content in staying behind when she learned she might help anyone who was injured. Harry helpfully conjured a pile of bandages, pulled some pain relieving potions from his trunk, a few bottles of the 'cruciatus cure' he had given to Buffy, as well a few spare Phoenix tears kept in jewel-like bottles, these he warned were only to be given in cases of extreme injury. All and all the medical supplies covered a full table, and they didn't seem to lighten anyone's spirits.

"Ready?" Harry asked. He held out a small pillow which he had turned into the portkey.

"Yep," replied Buffy grimly.

Giles nodded his head. A stake in one hand and the shield in the other.

"Make with the mojo," agreed Xander. He fingered the sword he'd been given.

"Umm, hmm," mumbled Willow with a nod.

Oz tipped his head to Harry.

"Go." Angels voice seemed the seal the situation. Harry activated the portkey, with a rush he felt the familiar tug at he navel and the world blurred. Harry blinked, the trip had been quick. He shook his head, and tried to breathe deeply. Looking around he noticed that only he, Buffy, Oz, and Angel were still standing. But the remaining scoobies quickly jumped up. Xander eyed the former portkey with something close to loathing.

"Okay, next time I'll walk," he stated.

But Harry wasn't listening. An intense wave of magic, almost searing hot, and at the same time bitterly cold, was blasting against him. He felt it batter against his own magical core. Part of his magical core recoiled slightly, the other burst to life feeling like a firework was going off under his skin. He tried to calm his magic, but the sweeping foreign influence was so great he could barely tell where he was.

"Hhh, cuhf, cough," Harry's breathe came in sudden gasps as he wheezed, drawing attention to his problem.

"Harry are you alright?" Giles peered down at his nephew. The boy had closed his eyes and seemed to trying to catch his breathe. Giles looked up at Buffy worriedly.

"This has never happened before," she said nervously.

"Uh, Buffy?" Xander voice interrupted their conversation.

"Not now Xander." Buffy also moved closer to the young wizard. "Harry, you okay," she asked nervously.

Harry raised a hand and waved it at Buffy and Giles, a gesture seeming to say that he'd be fine but, he shook violently afterward making the gesture hardly believable.

"Ummm, Buffy," said Xander again.

"Not now. Harry, are you gonna be okay?"

"BUFFY!" yelled Xander.

"WHAT!" she yelled back, turning to face her friend, irritation written plainly on her face.

"Umm, them." Xander pointed his hand, but Buffy didn't need the gesture. Her face had already paled. Standing not twenty feet behind them, encircling the school, was the most massive army of vampires she had ever seen. And, not just vampires. Scattered among the undead were demons, some of whom looked very fierce. But, perhaps the thing that chilled Buffy the most, was a slender man in black robes, his eyes glinting softly in the dark, and a smile. A smile that was cold. Buffy stepped back slightly.

"Harry?" she said softly. Her face remained forward but her eyes flickered for a moment, at the wizard by her side. Harry had dropped to his knees and was holding his head in his hand, struggling with his breathing. Buffy felt a bubbling panic rise in her gut. She couldn't do this without Harry. With him she had felt secure...but this?

"Interesting," a cool voice said. Buffy's head jerked. She raised her shield and shot a look at Giles. Macnair had appeared not five feet away, she hadn't even seen him move. But as she surveyed him, she noticed that he wasn't even looking at her. It was almost as if he didn't even see any of the others present, his eyes were locked on Harry. A wave of fury mingled with the anxiety in her gut. This was the man that had taken such pleasure in torturing her and Harry, and who knew how many others. She fought the urge to get closer and attack him physically. Harry's lecture about wands being like guns ran in her head. She had to keep a distance to dodge. Once again the anxiety blanketed the anger. They needed Harry to stand a chance against Macnair.

"I had thought you'd feel a reaction, Harry. It took me forever to understand what spell you had used. But now I know." Harry's head jerked up. His eyes flickered but didn't open. Something of what Macnair said seemed to have penetrated into Harry's mind.

"You laughed when I brought you before him. I wondered if you had broken." Macnair's voice was quiet, but Buffy heard every word. Giles too leaned forward a frown upon his face.

"But you hadn't. You never have. And you thanked me. Do you recall, it was said bitterly but still with gratitude. You thanked me for cutting into your left arm, had I used your right I would have cut through that invisible wand and holder you had attached so cleverly. And I never sensed your deceit, never knew. Nor did my Master. Cunning worthy of a Slytherin, and a desperate one at that."

-

Rupert Giles had only a fleeting knowledge of what Macnair was talking about. But he didn't need to know. More than anything he felt a growing horror raise in his stomach. Giles had been tortured himself, he knew what meant to never break. It wasn't a noble thing that most imagined. It had nothing to do with strength or toughness. There was no shame in breaking when subjected to incredible pain. Because in the end, all that 'not-breaking' meant was that you were left with a mangled body and a mind on the edge of madness. And yet, Harry and so many like him, had and would never break.

-

Harry was going through every mediation Dumbledore had taught him, even the really stupid ones. In truth he'd always considered all the old man's advice on magic control to be a little foolish. He'd always managed just fine with simply focusing, or running through Occlumency exercises. But he could suddenly sense his magical core more intensely than he had ever imagined possible. And, said magical core felt as if it was ripping in two.

Which wasn't surprising consider he had two magical cores fused together, rather unpleasantly.

Harry mind was getting kinda fuzzy, he vaguely felt his knees hit the slick grass and a new voice intruded. It wasn't Buffy or Giles's concerned voices but rather an icy voice he knew all too well. He was suddenly rather happy that he couldn't really understand. But words did flit across his mind as he fought for control.

"I thought...reaction, Harry. Understand...spell you used...I know."

Harry couldn't help but respond. How could Macnair know? But Harry knew he did. Amidst the confusion of his mind, Harry's memories became strangely clear.

-

He had stood before Lord Voldemort in the Chamber of Secrets. He'd been shaking, wracked with pain form his time in Macnair's torture chamber. Bastard. But he felt a secret strength burn within him. Strapped to his right arm, his wand arm, was the invisible wand holster Remus and the Order had given him, and inside said holster was his wand, Phoenix feather, holly, eleven inches. He watched Lucius Malfoy standing at Voldemort's right. The man laughed and twirled the wand he had retrieved from Harry earlier mockingly. Did they honestly think he was foolish enough to walk into Voldemort's lair with only one wand? They were the fools. Fools, because they had failed to see that the game had changed. This wasn't a mission of heroics, this wasn't Harry being the brave little boy he had always been. This was about vengeance. And with vengeance, there is always a little madness. For, vengeance, revenge, these things aren't justice. But Harry Potter, the hero of the Light, had reached a point where he wondered if there would ever be complete justice for a man like Voldemort. Would his death suffice? Would the Dementor's Kiss be any solace? Harry hadn't ever really known. But, Hermione was dead. Ron dead. Sirius dead. Remus dead. So many others that his eyes were dry, he had nothing left to give.

But Hermione, one of Voldemort's latest victims had found a spell in a book. She had chosen this punishment, and it seemed only fair that Harry dole it out. Did it matter that it was dark magic?

Harry had laughed then. It was a laughter that chilled him, for it so reminded him of his nightmares. A high shrill laugh, and then a burst of green light. The thought steadied him. He turned to Macnair who stood silently behind him. Harry had nodded his head in thanks. He'd raised his mutilated arm to Voldemort and the Dark Lord seemed to admire Macnair's work. He had opened his mouth to say something, later Harry would always slightly wonder what Voldemort had been about to say, what mocking banter was he about to offer. Harry would never know. For while Voldemort had been smiling in victory, Harry had twitched his wrist and in a single breathe his wand was extended and a curse had left his lips.

"Veneficus Nex"

It was the spell Hermione had found, and it's black light ripped through Voldemort like a cleaver.

But, it wasn't Voldemort's screams Harry heard as the curse struck. Rather it was Hermione's voice.

"I found a spell..." he voice had trailed off for a moment as if afraid to go on. But she pushed her fear aside. "It's called Venficus Nex, Magical Death. It pulls the magical core from a wizard, rips it out in the most painful way possible. Once the spell is cast, magical beings can't live without their magic. He'd die slowly, feeling every bit of pain he'd subjected us to. Isn't that fair?"

Harry hadn't answered Hermione then. He'd been too horrified by the excitement in her voice. Later, she gave him a copy of the spell, but they had never spoken of it again. A few days later she was dead.

But, Hermione hadn't known everything about the spell. Harry and the Deatheaters present had watched in a detached fascination as a ball of red magic leaked from Voldemort's chest, leaving the wizard crying out in pain, and panting desperately. Harry expected the magic to dissipate, to explode maybe...but instead the ball of light smashed into his own chest with impossible speed. Soon Harry's own body felt as if it were on fire. His own magical core was fusing itself to Voldemort's, absorbing the new magical energy.

Harry screamed. Magic exploded out from his body, and the Chamber of Secrets collapsed around him.

-

"Harry, can you hear me," Buffy voice pleaded into his ear. In the fog of his mind, Harry somehow picked up on the desperation in her voice. He clenched his jaw and pushed aside the turmoil that was ripping through him.

Harry stood, his action more graceful than Buffy might have imagined from his previous position. His eyes were still closed. But suddenly he was speaking, and Buffy released a silent sigh of relief. If Harry was on their side, she could handle these vamps.

"Do you really expect me to be afraid of you," hissed Harry. Giles paused at hearing his nephew's tone. It was one he had heard once before, after the boy had awoken from a violent nightmare. A mixture between the boy's naturally warm voice and a sharper, cold one. Giles couldn't help but cringe slightly.

"Decided to join--" But Macnair's words were silenced.

"I killed your master, do you expect me to fear a lone deatheater, Walden Macnair?"

"You did more than kill him," voiced Macnair, an odd light in his eyes.

"That's right, I did." At Harry's words, the young man's eyes opened. And, rather then the usually cool green depths, they seemed to burn with an odd fire. They were red, but not the sickly red that Voldemort's eyes had been. Harry's eyes burned with a red raw power that made even those surrounding him draw back. Giles witnessed this with a feeling that a pit had opened in his stomach.

"Dear god, The lumière d'enfer," said Giles softly. He took a deep breathe.

"Giles?" Willow leaned into the watcher. "What did you say?"

"He's...there is a prophecy, La Lumière d'Enfer. The Light of Hell. I...I didn't know..." But Giles silenced as Macnair spoke again.

"So Harry, you're going to stop me for all that is good and pure, are you now?"

"I'm going to stop you," Harry voice was growing colder by the moment.

"You don't even know why, do you?" Macnair's voice sounded strangely human. The cold calculating look left his eyes and he watched Harry with something close to pride. But that wasn't right. It was deeper than pride, darker than any satisfaction.

"Carsten, The rest you handle the Slayer and her fellows, come Harry. Catch me if you can."

"My pleasure," said the blonde vampire by his side.

With a pop Macnair disappeared. A low growl escaped Harry's lips and he was gone as well.

Buffy took a deep breathe. So Harry had done his part, she surveyed the gathered vampires and demons. She's just have to stay alive for awhile. No problem. She gave a swift glance to those standing beside her. Angel was ready, she never had to worry about him. Xander's face had lost it's jocular glow, rather his eyes had narrowed and he held a sword at neck level. Both Oz and Willow stood side by side, cross in one hand and a stake in the other. They were ready. Yet, when Buffy glanced at her normally poised Watcher, she found him pale and shaky. He turned to her with something akin to desperation in his eyes.

"Buffy, we have to get to Harry," said Giles, a panicked tone in his voice.

"But, what about the whole game plan thing. Harry fights magic dude, then comes back and conjures sun. Good plan Giles, you were there."

"Buffy, I was wrong, there is a prophecy. Harry can't do this on his own. We HAVE to get to him." Buffy's eyes widened. She gazed out into what amounted to a sea of vampires separating her and Harry.

"But Giles...how?"

-

-

A/N: Thank you much for your patience. The cruelty of end of semester essays have descended upon me, and add to that the fact that I was nice and lengthened this chapter a bit, hence longer wait. (On the plus side, anyone who wants to know about gender roles in Ovidan legend let me know...smiles) But I hope you enjoyed and please review. The end is nigh. As I've told some people I'm considering a sequel, let me know if you'd be interested.

(Also has anyone had any trouble with the site lately? this took me a few hours to upload. hmmmmm)

Also the quote Joyce is remembering is not my work, but rather the work of the brilliant writers of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Della